Coach: I think McGregor will fight Nurmagomedov next

Conor McGregor’s striking coach Owen Roddy spoke recently with MMANytt, and talked about what might be next for the biggest star in MMA, despite not having fought since November 12, 2016. That night ‘Notorious’ became the first fighter in league history to hold two belts simultaneously. Then instead of fighting, he made $100 million boxing Floyd Mayweather. Then instead of fighting, he threw a hand truck at a bus in an unfathomably stupid and ineffective attempt to intimidate Khabib Nurmagomedov.

However, Roddy reports that McGregor is training hard, and should fight soon. And Nurmagomedov is the new champ.

“I can’t confirm anything but it would be great,” said Roddy, as transcribed by Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting. “Conor’s training hard, he’s always training. He’s motivated and he wants to fight, it’s just that he gets a few things sorted out and then he sits down and negotiates a good deal for his next fight. I think it will be another big spectacle like they always are. So I’m excited, just like everybody else.”

“I don’t know but I think [Nurmagomedov]’s at the forefront. I always say, Conor wants the biggest fights that he can possibly have and I think, at the moment, Khabib seems to be that guy.”

“I’m sure it’s just down to the right negotiations but yeah, I think it is building. This kind of started similarly with the Mayweather fight; there was talk, there was a bit of back and forth and a bit of drama and then once the crowd and once the fans get behind it, they ultimately create the fight. It’s brewing up nicely.”

“The striker’s always at an advantage because you start standing and you start at range. The grappler always has to get around that and find his way into the clinch and it’s very, very difficult to do that without taking a big shot off Conor. It’s just about setting traps and putting his opponent in positions where they’re vulnerable. He’s got phenomenal takedown defense. You’ve seen that in some of his other fights. . . He’s no slouch there so we’re more than prepared to fight anybody.”

Before McGregor fights he has to live through the aftermath of his attack on the bus. He returns to court in Brooklyn, New York on July 26. It is believed he will be required to do community service, and will face no jail time. With that settled, the UFC will have to decide whether or not to punish McGregor for what UFC president Dana White initially characterized as, “The most disgusting thing that has ever happened in UFC history.” If there is no significant sanction, the hypocrisy will be immense, as will the payoff.

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